GB1138572A - Apparatus for crimping electrical connectors to wires - Google Patents

Abstract

1,138,572. Attaching connectors to conductors. AMP Inc. 21 July, 1967 [24 Aug., 1966], No. 33769/67. Headings B3A and B3Q. A press for stripping insulation from an end portion of wire and crimping a U-section connector 4 to the bared end comprises a clamp 11, 15 for gripping the wire at a position back from its end, a pair of blades 27 for severing the insulation between its end and the clamp and movable axially of the wire to strip the insulation, the clamp then moving to position the stripped wire-end in a connector 4 on an anvil 10, and a crimping die 9, Fig. 2, movable towards the anvil by a ram 7 to crimp the connector. According to the invention the clamp comprises a first clamping member 15 and a second clamping member 11 mounted beside the anvil, member 15 being released automatically by a latch 18, Fig. 1, at the beginning of the working stroke of the ram so that it moves ahead of the ram to clamp the wire against the second member 11 before the insulation is severed, and the member 11 being depressed to lay the wire end in the connector. As shown, a depressor 13 for the member 15 is carried by the ram 7 and the clamping member 15 is in a passage 14 in the depressor, being held against a spring 16 by the latch 18 which is released by a pawl 24 in a stationary frame 25, Fig. 3 (not shown), when the ram 7 is lowered. Mounted on the ram is an actuator 35 having inclined surfaces 34 engaging followers 32 on bladeholders 28 for turning the holders about pivots 29 and moving the blades 27 to sever the insulatibn. Buffers 36 are provided on the holders, and a return spring, Fig. 5 (not shown). The actuator also turns a bell-crank lever 39, Fig. 4, for moving two slides 30, 41 against return springs; one of the slides, 30, carrying the blade-holders, thus strips the insulation, while the other slide 41 withdraws a microswitch 8 and is retained at the end of its stroke by a latch 43. As the slide 30 moves the followers 32 laterally of the actuator 35, they enter recesses 49 allowing the blades to open and release the stripped insulation. As the ram moves down, the upper holder 15, bearing on the lower holder 11, is re-latched in the depressor 13, and the lower holder is depressed, severing the connector on the anvil 10 from a strip 5 of connectors by co-operation between a shear blade (12<SP>1</SP>), Fig. 7 (not shown), on the member 11 and further shear edges (not shown). After the bared wire is lowered, the connector is crimped about the bared end and the adjacent insulation by two crimping dies 9. Towards the end of the return stroke of slide 30, a stop 46 on the slide releases the catch 43, permitting return of the slide 41 carrying the microswitch 8. The microswitch is operated by contact with the end of the wire as this is placed in a recess 12 in the lower clamping member 11. In a modification, Fig. 8 (not shown), the latch (18<SP>1</SP>) is withdrawn by a fluidpressure cylinder (51). Feeds.-The strip of connectors is advanced by a finger 6 operated pneumatically or by a linkage during return strokes of the ram.